Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ Category

Software FAQs

Q: Why did you replace Cahoots Easy Editor for Windows and Cahoots Pizazz for macOS?

A: Replacing our software was a decision we did not take lightly. After careful consideration we believe the benefits offered by our new software, Cahoots Easy Designer, far outweigh any inconvenience that the changeover may cause.

Our Cahoots Easy Editor for Windows (which is licensed from a third party) has reached end of life and is no longer being further developed. In order to offer continuing improvements in functionality, migration to a different tool was necessary. Cahoots Pizazz for macOS was our first offering for Apple computers. Whilst it offered greater creative possibilities, its ease of use and reliability was inferior to our Windows counterpart.

Our new Cahoots Easy Designer overcomes all of these key issues. It has the same ease of use as our original Windows software, and has the same creative possibilities as our original Pizazz software for Apple Macs. Importantly, it is available for both platforms, so switching from one to the other won’t involve a new learning curve.

Q: I have a book file I am still working on (or keeping), in your original software. Can I still get it printed?

A: Our Cahoots Easy Editor for Windows is licensed from a third party and once the agreement is terminated, we will no longer be able to process files from Cahoots Easy Editor for Windows. By extension, this means that all your .epb files will no longer be of any practical use. We have done our best to inform all our previous customers that the final submission date for Cahoots Easy Editor and Cahoots Pizazz books will be the last week of January 2017. After this date, we will no longer have the licensing or infrastructure in place to process submitted book files originating from our legacy software. If you may require exact reprints of any book previously printed by us, please get in touch as we may be able to provide you with a backup copy of the associated print file (which could be professionally printed at any time in the future). A nominal fee applies for this service.

If your (already commenced) project will continue beyond these timeframes, please contact us as soon as possible so we can discuss possible transition arrangements.

Q: I did not (or don’t want to) use your software. Can you make a book from a PDF file?

A: We can take your PDF and produce a beautiful hardcover book for you, provided your file meets certain requirements. Importantly, it must have the same dimensions as any of our book sizes. Please contact us to discuss the specifics as they relate to your project.

Regrettably, we must charge a small setup fee for our time to import your PDF (or preferably JPEG files), into the Cahoots software. If your files are compliant with our recommended specifications, importing will be smooth, and your setup fee will be in the order of $20 for a 40 page book.

Photo FAQs

Q: How many photos does a book accommodate?

A: For a 40 page 30cm square Large Luxurious book, we would recommend between 80 and 120 photos. If you keep the number of pages fixed, the more photos you insert, the smaller the average size of the photos. You can of course have less than 40 pages, or add additional pages. Your choices may be guided by the quality of the photos themselves, and the importance of the book.

For books of smaller dimensions, your page real estate is less, so your photos will obviously be smaller, all other factors being equal. Similarly, if you choose an A3 Large Landscape, you can have the same number of photos but have them larger, or you may wish to make use of the additional space to accommodate more photos.

Q: I have some hardcopy photos and memorabilia. How do I include them in my photo book?

A: For photos and articles etc. that need to be in sharp focus, you will need to arrange for these to be scanned.

If you have access to a scanner (?via a friend, or work, or local library), we recommend that you configure the scanner for 600dpi (dots per inch). Many scanners are set up with a default of 300dpi which is a good default for scanning documents that don’t need scaling up. However, to give maximum flexibility for cropping and/or enlargement of your chosen images when you layout your photo book, a minimum 600 dpi is recommended for standard sized photos. Smaller photos may need a higher setting while large photos can be scanned with a lower dpi setting.

For children’s artwork you may have some success in photographing such images. You should try to ensure that the lighting is as even and diffused as possible. It is worth trying to photograph these outside in the shade or on an overcast day, avoiding the uneven lighting of a flash. Pay particular attention to achieving a sharp focus, and avoid shallow depth or field, otherwise part of the drawing may be blurry.

If that all sounds too difficult, Cahoots offers scanning services to assist in the process of creating a photo book. See our price list for details.

Q: Are my digital photos going to print OK in a Cahoots photo book?

A: Colourwise, our workflow is designed so that your printed photos will look very similar to how they look on a properly calibrated screen. For those who understand colour profiles, our software assumes sRGB colour space.

In terms of resolution, typically your camera’s photos will have dimensions in 1000’s of pixels on each axis, and be close to 1 or more Megabytes in size. Don’t worry if that is too technical for you. Our software will flag any photos it considers to be “poor resolution” (yellow warning triangle), or “bad resolution” (red triangle).

At Cahoots we frequently print with images having yellow triangles, with no noticeable deficiency in the printed output. Images with “bad resolution” we try to avoid if at all possible. In extreme cases, these images may appear excessively blurred or pixelated. Frequently we encounter such images if they have been taken from Facebook or other online sources. These images have a resolution that is satisfactory for screen viewing, but have to be significantly smaller in print to look as good. In some cases clients have chosen to keep bad resolution images in their book. Even though they know the printed output may not be so good, the images represent important memories that need to be accommodated in the book.

If your photo is displaying a resolution warning you have three options to improve it. You can reduce the amount of cropping, and/or you can make the photo itself smaller on the page. Otherwise, you should try to re-scan at higher resolution, or try to obtain the original image file that may have a higher resolution that the file you are using.

Q: I have a flatbed scanner. Can I scan multiple photos at once?

A: You can scan multiple photos in a single scan if you wish. The advantage is that you will save some time in the scanning process. If you scanner can recognise multiple photos and generate a files for each of them then there will be no issue from working more efficiently.

However, if your scanner will create a single file with multiple images, keep in mind that you will then need to crop each scan multiple times to match the size of the part of your scan that contains the photo you are placing in your book. This takes time, so the times saved in scanning may well be lost by the extra effort required to place each photo in the book.

Additionally, you will not be able to make use of the handy feature of Cahoots Easy Editor (on Windows computers) whereby Cahoots software can hide used images, as the software will not be able to track whether or not a single scan contains multiple photos. Thus, unless you have scanned items in the exact same order you need them placed in the photo book, you may lose some time keeping track of what photos remain to be placed, and risk leaving some out accidentally.

Book FAQs

Q: What covers can I choose? Do you have other options apart from what is offered in your software?

A: Our software allows you to choose between a default “leather look” cover or a “custom cover” upgrade. The latter is a cover consisting of any images and/or text that you design. (Call us if you are unsure about how to go about choosing this.)

In addition to the above, we offer a number of premium fabrics suitable for special books. We have pearlescent cream buckram, a metallic grey buckram, brown “Duo” linen, turquoise “Duo” linen, as well as real leather. Most covers are a suitable if you wish to have gold foil stamping or embossing, which we can arrange or refer.

Samples of all of these fabrics can be seen in our store in Subiaco. You can order these special cover upgrades by making a note in the comments box when you place your photobook order via our software. You should then call (08 9388 7619) or send us a message to confirm your request at which time we will take an additional payment for the difference in cost.

Q: Do you offer alternative papers?

A: Our standard paper is a 170gsm coated stock with a satin finish. On our A3 Large Landscape books we use a 200gsm version of the same paper. By request, we can also print on a premium warm white matt art paper of 148gsm. We also now offer a 216gsm layflat hinged paper in a satin finish across all our formats. However, please note that all layflat books have a maximum page count of 60. Also, the A3 large landscape layflat paper has a black hinge, while all other sizes have a white hinge.

Feel free to visit our Subiaco store where you can view sample books made with these papers.

The layflat and matt art papers are offered as a premium upgrade. Please call us to discuss the additional costs, and how to request alternative papers.

While our software will permit the number of pages above, we recommend a maximum of 72 pages for best usability. (Alternatively, you may wish to consider separate volumes – especially if the 60page layflat maximum is an issue.)

Order FAQs

Q: How do I order my photobook?

A: Typically your order is initiated within Cahoots software via the “Order” menu. After compressing your book file, you are requested to send the order file to us. This can be done by uploading the file over the internet, or burning a CD/transferring to a thumb drive for sending in the post. Alternatively (especially for first timers) you can save your book file “as archive” and bring it into the store for submission. Feel free to contact us if you have any difficulties with the ordering process.

Q: How do I know my order has been successfully received?

A: Once your file has been successfully transferred, you will see a link at the base of the window which will take you to the checkout page on our website where you can complete and pay for your order. Payment is normally required before your book is queued for our weekly production process.

Q: I’ve discovered an error. Can I cancel my order?

A: As long as we have not printed your book, we can cancel your order, after which you can submit your updated file. Please contact us promptly and quote the order number if you wish to cancel a specific order.

Q: I wish to order special finishing options for my book. How do I do that?

A: If you wish to order a cover in premium fabrics, a book with black end papers or you have other requirements that you have discussed with us, please specify your request in the message box in the order wizard. We will invoice you separately for any difference in cost between your online book price, and the cost of any upgrades.

Delivery FAQs

Q: How long does it take for my book to be produced?

A: Our current production process works on a weekly cycle, beginning on a Monday morning. (Note that the shop is closed on Mondays!)

We advise to allow two cycles in order for your book to be completed, so that any QC or scheduling issues can be accommodated. Books are normally available in the store for collection on a Friday, and if you opted to collect your book, we will contact you once your book is ready. (Otherwise we will simply despatch the book if you elected to have it posted. Please allow for delivery time on top of the above production timeframes, if working to a deadline.)

If you require your book to have a short turn-around, we can usually arrange to have the book completed in a single production cycle. However, if your book is especially thick or requires special finishing, a one week turnaround may not be possible. Depending upon the exact circumstances of your order, a Rush Job Fee may be applicable. Please contact us to discuss if it is feasible for us to meet your deadline.

The above timeframes are for book production. If you engage Cahoots to design your book (Do It For Me), the time taken to finalise the book layout is normally between 3 and 5 business days, depending upon our workload. Thus, if opt for our Do It For Me service, you should ideally allow 1 week for book design in addition to the production times outlined above.

Q: I need my book urgently. Can I request expedited service?

A: While we normally advise allowing 2 weekly production cycles for completion (see above), upon request we can provide a rush job service, subject to certain limitations. Typically, average sized books submitted on a Monday can be completed in a single weekly production run, and be ready for collection on the following Friday, if pre-arranged. Please do contact us to confirm we can meet your deadline, and to ascertain if a rush job fee will apply.

Q: How much is the Rush Job Surcharge, and when does it apply?

A: A rush job surcharge of will apply if a “Let Me Do It” book is submitted on a Tuesday or Wednesday, or is required on a Thursday afternoon for pickup. A surcharge will also apply when there is less than 3 Cahoots business days available for the designing and approval of a “Do It For Me” book. (This generally means we should receive material before Thursday, for completion of the physical book by the Friday of the following week.) There may be other scenarios where a Rush Job Fee applies. Please contact us to discuss your desired timeframe and to ascertain any applicable “Rush Job” fee.

Q: Why do you charge a Rush Job Fee?

A: We try to keep the Rush Job Fee as low as possible, while keeping necessary efficiencies in our production. Therefore the Rush Job Fee covers additional expenses such as call-off labour, overtime, printer setup fees for late books, and additional transport of book components in order to meet meet shortened delivery timeframes.

Audio Enhancement FAQs

Q: How do I add audio to my book?

have your audio clip available somewhere on the internet that is publicly accessible, and not likely to change (so that the URL is stable)

generate a QR code for that audio file in that location (there are many sites on the internet that can do this for free)

save the generated QR code image on your hard disk

convert it to JPG format (so that you can include it in your book)

place the QR code in your book – a couple of cm wide should be more than sufficient. Try to ensure it is not too stretched or reduced, in which case you may have anti-aliasing that may make the code look blurry. In this case, fiddling with the contrast settings for the code should help

have your book printed (if your first time, you may want a proof book to check you have things under control)

download the cahoots Book Speaker (or other QR scanner of your choice) and scan the code